It promises to be an emotional afternoon for everyone at Odsal on Sunday as – for the third time this season – the Bradford Bulls take the field in the knowledge that it could be their last appearance. But for Simon Foster, who will be attending the game against London Broncos in his usual role providing radio commentary for the blind, there will be an extra poignancy.

Foster was a schoolboy in 1963-64 when his father Trevor – the late, great Trevor who had come north from Newport in 1938 and went on to make 428 appearances for the club before serving in all manner of other capacities, latterly timekeeper – acted as the figurehead for the revival of Bradford Northern. Now the club is flirting with extinction again.

"I have vivid memories of those dark days as a schoolboy in Bradford when my father attended so many meetings around the city encouraging businesses to come on board," said Simon, who lives and works in the north-east but has remained a regular at Odsal.

"Trevor always used to call Odsal his 'small piece of heaven on earth' partly because he adopted the place as his second home after arriving in 1938 from Newport and receiving such a fantastic welcome. It was his life. What a great shame it would be if the club folded when it has been such a successful focal point for the local community, particularly for young people in and around Bradford, and an important employer to so many for over 100 years.

"I wish my father was still around to provide some leadership, integrity and a spirit of togetherness. I know he would have been deeply saddened by this tragedy and his first thoughts would be with the staff and the players at Odsal, and above all the supporters who recently rallied so generously with their amazing pledges.

"All the Foster family including Trevor's relatives in south Wales have been watching closely as events have unfolded in recent weeks and we hope and pray that even at this very late stage of administration a good Samaritan – or a consortium – will come forward to rescue the club at the death."

Foster had been preparing to urge Bradford's supporters and players to welcome Brian Noble back to the club as an interim coach, which was the initial plan of the administrators now running the club, Trevor Foster having been an important mentor to Noble during his early playing days with the city's police team.

He was as shocked as anyone when Mick Potter, the Australian who had been made redundant with the rest of his coaching staff by the administrators last Monday, agreed to return on an unpaid basis out of loyalty to the players.

"Mick Potter has been absolutely tremendous in recent months in keeping the team focused and producing some outstanding results, notably away last week at Wigan," Foster said. "I know he is a sincere and caring gentleman and above all a devout family man, and this remarkably generous gesture is further evidence of that.

"The performance at Wigan underlined the spirit that remains in the club, and Sunday's game at Odsal now provides another chance for the players and supporters to demonstrate that to anyone who might be able to come to our rescue."